Casey’s Eco-Challenge youth ambassadors prepare to board the bus to see Al Gore.CASEY’S youth were inspired last week to help save the environment.
Seventeen young Casey environmental ambassadors heard former US vice president and global warming campaigner Al Gore speak at An Audience with Al Gore Global Business Forum.
They were invited as special guests of Victorian Premier John Brumby to attend the event at the Sofitel Melbourne last Friday.
City of Casey community services director Jennie Lee said the Premier’s invitation recognised the outstanding efforts of the young people as role models in educating the community about sustainable living as members of council’s Youth Eco-Challenge program.
“The opportunity to hear from one of the most powerful champions of environmental awareness in the world today not only provided these young people with an unforgettable and unique experience but has also reinforced the important role they are playing as environmental leaders in their own community,” Ms Lee said.
The council set up the leadership program late last year along with Environment Victoria.
Environment Victoria, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) and the City of Casey’s youth services team have now partnered for Youth Eco-Challenge 11, Diversity for Sustainability.
CMYI youth participation coordinator Rob Ball said the Casey youth ambassadors who met Mr Gore would now take the lead in working with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds on new sustainability projects.
“Finding ways to live more sustainable lives is a constant learning process for the whole community,” Mr Ball said.
“The more people that can contribute to this learning, the better prepared we’ll be to meet our environmental challenges.”
